Medicinal substance for topical application

Abstract

A medicinal substance for topical application is disclosed. The substance comprises a water-soluble glass containing silver or a silver compound. Typically, the glass comprises phosphorus pentoxide and contains silver oxide. The substance may be used for the treatment of wounds, catheter and tubing entry points, stoma sites and body passage entrances where bacterial growth and migration are rife. The glass may be in the form of a powder, granules, woven into a dressing form, a sinter shaped in a particular way or used as filler in polymers for surface release.

I claim: 
     
       1. A medicinal substance capable of retarding bacterial growth at a surface of a body comprising a water-soluble glass comprising phosphorus pentoxide as a glass-forming substance, said glass containing silver orthophosphate and means to maintain the substance in contact with a surface of a body. 
     
     
       2. A medicinal substance according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble glass is in the form of a powder. 
     
     
       3. A medicinal substance according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble glass is in the form of fibres woven into a dressing. 
     
     
       4. A medicinal substance according to claim 1, further comprising a polymer in which the glass is used as a filler for surface release. 
     
     
       5. A medicinal substance according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble glass further comprises sodium oxide and calcium oxide. 
     
     
       6. A medicinal substance, according to claim 1 or claim 5, in which said silver orthophosphate is incorporated in said glass at a glass forming temperature. 
     
     
       7. The method of retarding bacterial growth at the surface of a body, said surface being accessed by a body fluid, said method comprising applying a water-soluble glass to the surface, said glass comprising phosphorus pentoxide as a glass-forming substance, and said glass being impregnated with silver orthophosphate as a source of silver ions and maintaining the glass in contact with the surface, so that a controlled release of an effective amount of silver ions is obtained on dissolution of the glass in said body fluid.